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    • Managing warmth & heat loss

    Managing Warmth & Heat Loss
    In the Backcountry

    Skier 1 encountered Skiers 2 & 3 at the trailhead and invited them to ski with him along Titus Ridge. After their first lap, Skier 1 moved further up the ridge and selected another run. Skiers 2 & 3 had concerns about stability but climbed up to Skier 1 to watch him drop off a small cornice and onto a slope triggering an avalanche. Once the debris stopped moving skiers 2 & 3 heard yelling partway down the slope and safely proceeded to the victim. Skier 1 was laying partially buried and hanging onto the branches of a tree, both femurs obviously broken and a spirally rotated tib-fib fracture apparent. Skier 2 had recently completed Wilderness First Responder and was extremely competent. A level platform was dug and the patent laid out in proper alignment. Between the three skiers they had a lightweight thermarest pad, bivy, space blanket, and extra clothing including down pants and vest. A well-coordinated and difficult rescue ensued, and the patient was air-lifted to a nearby hospital shortly before 18:30 that day (full report). 

    Managing Warm and Heat Loss In the Backcountry

    The ability of the rescuers to keep the patient warm and comfortable was a crucial component of first aid and, although an extreme example, an excellent reason for carrying extra survival gear and understanding its value. Medical science has shown maintaining a normal core temperature for a trauma patient is of equal importance to other life saving measures, and the effects of hypothermia are much worse in trauma patients than in exposure victims. Responding to trauma, a likely consequence of avalanches, is not out of the realm of possibility for those who backcountry ski. Equipment failures or navigation errors are also scenarios that could impact backcountry users, resulting in a much longer than anticipated stay in cold temperatures. Keeping yourself and others warm could unexpectedly transform into a priceless skill - not only a practice of comfort.


    There are three primary mechanisms of heat transfer: radiative (from the sun, or another radiating heat source such as a fire), conductive (direct contact), and convective (through air or space being heated). When you stand outside on a cold day, you lose most of your body heat through convective heat loss. This changes once you put on a down jacket, because your body begins to heat the air inside the jacket and the warm air is held closer to your skin. Your feet are also losing heat through conductive heat loss - direct contact with ice or snow. You insulate them by applying a barrier between your feet and the cold surface, such as a foam insole inside a plastic ski boot on top of a fiberglass ski. Less body heat escapes the shell of the boot and therefore your foot maintains its temperature relatively well, depending on how rapidly your blood is circulating. If you’re standing outside on a sunny day, you are likely to collect heat from the sun (just like the snowpack). Often times, the most reliable heat source is your own metabolism.

    In extreme cold your blood is literally keeping your body from freezing, especially at its extremities. By circulation, the heat your muscles generate by burning ATP is redistributed throughout the body. When working aerobically, your body produces more heat than it generally needs, and therefore you sweat. This becomes a problem because liquids are notoriously efficient at transporting heat away from your skin. To put it in scientific terms, the specific heat of air is 1.005 kJ/kgK, meaning it takes 1.005 kilojoules of energy to warm 1 kilogram of air (by mass), by 1 degree Kelvin (or Celsius). The specific heat of water, on the other hand is 4.186 kJ/kgK, meaning it takes roughly four times as much energy to produce the same temperature change. Moisture next to your skin can suck heat away from your body four times as fast as air - thus it is highly important not to get excessively sweaty on the uphill. 

    Managing Warm and Heat Loss In the Backcountry
    Enter the sweet science of layering. In order to prevent the accumulation of perspiration next to your skin, your layers must be breathable. Most layering systems begin with a wicking layer, which transports moisture away from your body and keeps the surface of your skin dry. Synthetics are notoriously better at wicking than wool (although merino base layers are incredibly popular) and we all know cotton kills. If you are performing an intense aerobic activity, such as running, cross country ski racing, or competitive ski mountaineering, your layer’s wicking ability becomes even more important, as sweating is unavoidable (Note: in most of these activities the duration is known and therefore the consequences of excess moisture are managed upon completion of the event; this is not necessarily the case when out for a tour and body temperatures are likely to rise and fall several times). If you ski with a group of varying fitness levels, it becomes an individual responsibility to layer up or down appropriately. This should be quite easy in today’s market - there are literally hundreds of different base layer / mid layer combinations available. Popular favorites include breathable mid-layers with pit zips, thin material under the arms and/or on the back panel, half-zips, and vests (“body-mapping”) - trial and error required. 
    Managing Warm and Heat Loss In the Backcountry
    Once you have your skinning layers perfected it becomes important to adjust immediately upon change of pace. Carrying an insulating parka in your pack is highly recommended for any stops, whether that be snowpack assessment, a snack break, or waiting on other members of the group (this should also be considered a piece of your first aid kit). If you speed up towards the end of a climb, take off your hat and gloves or unzip your midlayer. Constant and diligent temperature regulation is going to prevent perspiration from accumulating - this is especially pertinent to those on long day tours, overnights, or traverses. As polar explorer and expedition guide Eric Larsen once called it, the “polar strip tease” is something to practice well, and moisture is your enemy in the cold. 

    Staying warm while moving is directly linked to staying dry, and therefore proper layering. Staying warm while stationary relies on your ability to insulate. Since your body is no longer producing excess heat, body heat must be conserved as economically as possible through preventing convective and conductive heat loss. In the case presented in the introduction, the rescuers did an incredible job of insulating the victim (the extra down clothing and the bivy) and preventing conductive heat loss (thermarest pad, bivy, space blanket), ultimately one of the skills that facilitated a successful rescue. Just laying or sitting in the snow for ten minutes can sap an incredible amount of body heat due to ground contact preventing any warmed air between your skin and the snow surface. Although barriers against conductive heat loss can be bulky, even a thin layer of reflective foil in a single use bivy will prevent some amount of conductive heat loss.

    Sitting or laying on a pack or skis can provide additional insulation. Snow, as a material, is incredibly insulating if you can provide a barrier between the surface of the snow and your body. Digging a trench to escape the wind, or in extreme cases building a snow cave can provide reliable and effective means to conserve heat. If remaining one or multiple nights in the cold, finding or building a shelter is essential to increasing your chances of survival. Starting a fire can also provide warmth, dry out any wet gear, and allow you to melt drinking water. Carrying a few small items in your touring pack such as a knife, lighter and/or matches, some small diameter cord and a lightweight tarp can go a long way. 
    Managing Warm and Heat Loss In the Backcountry
    If the overnight is intentional, there are several things you can do to conserve heat and reduce moisture build-up. The nalgene full of hot water is remarkably comfortable, especially if placed between your legs or under your arms. Removing your boot liners and stowing them under or in the bottom of a sleeping bag will both dry them out and make them easier to put on the next day. Piling snow against the walls of your tent and laying out an extra tarp or space blanket on the tent floor further insulates the air inside and allows the inside air temperature to climb several degrees higher than outside the tent walls, even with the tent zips vented to prevent excess condensation. Hydration is crucial for maintaining body temp, as it is directly related to blood volume and therefore circulation - the downside of hydration is leaving the tent or sleeping bag in the middle of the night. A relief vessel can be incredibly convenient for those willing and able. For those less inclined, it is more efficient to empty your bladder frequently rather than waiting it out; your body uses excess energy maintaining the temperature of the liquid inside your bladder (water again acting as a heat sink). 
    Managing Warm and Heat Loss In the Backcountry
    In conclusion, a conscientious and diligent approach to heat conservation in the backcountry is something every skier should adopt, not only for the worst-case scenario but also for comfort and convenience. Having useful pieces of equipment and carrying them with you can provide for drastically different outcomes in an unexpected situation. Being aware of your temperature and layering appropriately can prevent excess heat loss through sweat, and keep you warm, dry, and hydrated throughout varying intensity levels. Understanding the basic mechanics of heat transfer facilitates comfortable, safe, and efficient backcountry travel and ultimately, more skiing. Should the worst-case occur, preventing heat loss will greatly decrease more serious consequences.
    Content and inspiration courtesy of Eric Larsen and all the brands who made CampCold 2020 a possibility. A lot of these concepts and ideas were put to the test using gear provided by Baffin, MSR, Therm-A-Rest, and Otso Cycles, and the knowledge and experience behind these brands made for a comfortable and memorable experience. Check out some of the additional product content above, as well as lots of cold-weather gear tested and reviewed here on Backcountry Skiing Canada. Stay dry, plan ahead, and enjoy the cold!

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